Glad Alissa added the 2nd Lutz back versus the Flip which she gets a edge call once in a while.

I think she'll get this done by Nationals, but that Last solo T.Toe needs to be a T.Toe-d.toe-d.toe combo.

Gotta milk every single point. Granted Kostner does not have the most difficult program, she is crafty in her program layout. Making sure both the axles are in the up front and both Triple Loops are in the 2nd half. And ending the program with a Triple Sal-d.toe-d.toe is a nice point builder.

She has little wiggle room to make mistakes versus an Ando program, however when she manages to stay on her feet, she can compete with the rest of the pack. Korpi versus Kostner should be interesting at Euro's.

Whoa, I just read where I left off hours ago when I went to catch some shut eye.

I see the same #(@#$ still getting on Rachael's case as usual. Always a catch-22 with her, eh. She has the same severe tendonitis condition as Sasha Cohen had last season, which had Sasha withdrawing from SA, et al because of it, but, no, as usual Rachael doesn't catch a break from her #1 detractor. She's damned if she does, and damned if she doesn't.

Why can't people just enjoy Alissa's victory without putting down others, Rachael in particular has always been a good punching bag for some on here.

Good for Alissa, but man this season has been totally whacked. I truly do miss the old days. I just wish one skater would completely capture my attention to the point of Henie/Baiul/Hughes, and of course Evgeni. Still hanging on by a thread, Kevin Reynolds at SC, and Rachael at SA.

Here's hoping Nationals isn't a splatfest, and some newcomers rise to the occasion. I wish we had some of those wonderful Russian phenoms I've been reading about. Oh well, enjoy the moment.

Rachel and the ladies from Nippon

Originally Posted by Nadine

p.s. Rachael should take note of the Japanese skaters. Not only did Miki lose weight & transform herself, but also Akiko did as well, and look how great they are doing on the international circuit. I think this is a wake up call for Rachael to lose weight, get cut like Joannie Rochette, Akiko, et al have done. If they can do it so can Rachael.

713.72 1st place for Akiko!

I was going to post on this before, but it is a sensitive issue, and my last post on the subject warranted a "warning". There is a big purple elephant in the room, and I guess we are all going to pretend it doesn't exist-especially in Japan. Watching Mao last week, I wanted to cry. Mao's muscles have disappeared-becaue MAO has disappeared. She has no strength or energy, might one guess WHY? And Mao is not the only representative of Japan who has taken this road.
So as far as Rachel: I like her just the way she is, thank you very much. I think the skaters from Japan are a far bigger tragedy, and I wonder when and if the issue is ever going to be properly addressed. We said nothing about Midori Ito when she disappeared, and it seems that nothing ever changes.

Ok I just watched Czisny's FS on Universal's site. It wasn't COMPLETELY clean- a stumble on the 2A, but thanks to her SP it was enough for the win. Good for her. And personally, glad to FINALLY see a US lady triumph over some of these other skaters.

Yeah, I know Akiko had anorexia in the past, but from all accounts she is okay now, right? And I too recall Midori Ito, but I thought that was because of the flu?

Mao I don't see a problem, she's always been long-limbed & naturally slim since I can remember, that is when she won the GPF to now. I see no eating disorder.

And Joannie Rochette looks "cut", no eating disorder there, I would rather Rachael take this route to be honest. Also, Angelina Nikodinov lost weight and totally transformed herself, so losing weight doesn't automatically mean *eating disorder/anorexia*. This is sport after all, even Tonya Harding knew when she lost weight her jumps were right on!

p.s. and OMG, how could I forget Sasha Cohen showing up at 2010 US Nationals and looking like that!!!!

Now that's the definition of C-U-T. She could've honestly entered a body building competition and won! That's how phenomenal/fantastic she looked! I still can't get over it. She could give Joannie Rochette & Denise Biellmann together a run for their money. My bet's on Sasha. I wish one of the American ladies would take this route and show up at Nationals like that. Whoa!

there is a thin line between losing weight and almost die like Akiko, so I wouldnt advice anyone to follow her road. And Miki is unnatural thin since last season, if you go back and watch her 2007 worlds she had a woman body and now she has an anorexik one. Rachel doesnt have a good body type for the cruel little dresses of figure skating that Mao and Yuna look so good in, but she is rather small in reality and doesnt need to lose weight.If they try to lose more weight than their body permits they will lose muscle mass, Yagudin had gotten worst on his jumps with the crazy thought one season to lose weight and had no strenght. Also injuries happen more this way.Yuna and Mao are not the usual slim girl you see on the street, they are ultra thin(i think Yuna now added a kilo or something which is better)

I forgot, I m the last person on earth to be Flatt's fan but this forum writes off or rises skaters too quickly and the opposite, one month before that she managed to qualify she was not that terrible, neither her team, and Czisny was not the ice queen either in comments. It is just a competition and she had 2 bad skates.